Fibre Circle

What Fibre Circle does

Fibre Circle (legally PAMDEV NPC) is a South African non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) operating under public benefit organisation status. It is the sole government-recognised PRO for the paper and paper packaging sector, registered with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) under South Africa's EPR legislation effective 5 November 2021. EPR-obligated producers — manufacturers, importers, and brand owners placing more than 10 tonnes per annum of paper or paper packaging on the domestic market — are legally required to join a PRO, making Fibre Circle's membership functionally mandatory for the sector.

The organisation's core offering is EPR fee management across eight paper categories, with tonnage-based fees ranging from R14.95 per tonne (Packaging Papers) to R532.89 per tonne (Liquid Board Packaging). It also issues registration certificates and six-monthly Letters of Good Standing, operates an Excel-based quarterly declarations portal, and runs a CEPI-method and Kadant Autolab recyclability testing service at Mpact's Springs Mill (partly co-funded by the DSI Sector Innovation Fund III). Underlying technology includes a national GIS platform mapping waste facilities, landfills, buy-back centres, and drop-off points, plus SMME and schools monitoring dashboards built in-house.

Beyond compliance, Fibre Circle runs community and enterprise development programmes: a SMME Development Programme with 15 enrolled enterprises across 6 provinces, the Zithande Mzansi Schools Programme combining recycling, food gardens, and Dignity Loos sanitation, and a Waste Picker Integration Programme including a December 2024 initiative distributing 2,000 food buckets to reclaimers. The board includes senior representatives from Sappi, Mondi, Mpact, and Nampak, with Edith Leeuta as CEO since May 2022 and 11 total employees. Self-reported metrics include 80% paper and paper packaging market share in South Africa, 942,908 tonnes collected and diverted from landfill annually, and 883,027 tonnes locally recycled.

Name

Fibre Circle

Legal name

PAMDEV NPC

Website

https://fibrecircle.co.za

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fibre Circle is the sole government-recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation for South Africa's paper and paper packaging sector, collecting mandatory EPR fees from 250+ producers and investing in recycling infrastructure, SMME development, schools programmes, and recyclability testing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Paper Recycling Compliance Services

NAICS

Paper Mills (322120)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Compliance, Traceability & Certification Services (EPR/Product Passports/Chain-of-Custody) (IMAOAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK), Supplier/Procurement Compliance Programs for Certified Fiber (policy implementation) (AFAMALAI)

Keywords

• Extended producer responsibility
• Paper recycling management
• Producer responsibility organisation
• Waste management compliance
• Circular economy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bryanston

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. EPR Membership Fees: Registered producers pay EPR fees to Fibre Circle based on tonnes of identified paper and paper packaging products placed on the domestic market, whether through local manufacturing and sales or imports. Fees are tiered by paper category (e.g., Packaging Papers at R14.95/tonne, Liquid Board Packaging at R532.89/tonne). Fees fund recycling infrastructure, SMME support, consumer awareness, and recyclability standards development.
2. Recyclability Testing Services: Fibre Circle issues opinion reports on CEPI test reports from Mpact laboratory, charging a fixed fee of R1,000 excl. VAT per industry opinion. Testing is requested through Fibre Circle and coordinated with Mpact Operations, Springs Mill. Testing fees vary by membership status and sample volume (R9,056–R15,093 incl. VAT per sample).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fibre Circle is a government-recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that manages Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes for the paper and paper packaging sector in South Africa on behalf of obligated producers. It collects EPR fees per tonne of identified paper and paper packaging placed on the domestic market, and reinvests these in recycling infrastructure, SMME development, recyclability testing (CEPI and Kadant Autolab), GIS-based waste facility mapping, and the Zithande Mzansi schools education programme.

Product overview

Fibre Circle is a government-recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for the paper and paper packaging sector in South Africa. The organisation operates as a unified platform offering EPR management services, compliance tools, and community programmes. Core offerings include the EPR Online/Declarations platform for quarterly volume reporting and fee collection, the SMME Development Programme supporting waste entrepreneurs across 6 provinces, the Zithande Mzansi Schools Programme combining recycling, food gardens and Dignity Loos sanitation, and the Schools Collections Programme with monitoring dashboards. Supporting infrastructure includes a Geographic Information System (GIS) with Maps & GeoApps for tracking waste facilities across South Africa, Recyclability Testing Services using CEPI and Kadant Autolab methods, and an R&D Programme funding university research. Additional initiatives include Waste Picker Integration, the Label Backing Paper Recycling Initiative, and a Partnership & Awards Programme. The organisation manages EPR fees across 8 paper categories and provides registration services with compliance certificates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Management
• Producer Registration Services
• EPR Online Declarations System
• EPR Fee Collection
• SMME Development Programme
• Zithande Mzansi Schools Programme
• Schools Collections Programme
• Recyclability Testing Services
• Geographic Information System (GIS) for Waste Infrastructure Mapping
• Maps & GeoApps
• SMME Monitoring Dashboards
• Research and Development Programme
• SA Repulpability and Recyclability Standard
• Label Backing Paper Recycling Initiative
• Waste Facilities Locator Map

Quantifiable outcome

• 942,908 tonnes collected and diverted from landfill (self-reported)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Good Work Foundation (GWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2025Fibre Circle and GWF launched a partnership on 7 February 2025 at the GWF Hazyview Campus to promote environmental education. Fibre Circle presented 35 waste bins, bulk bags, and waste picker tongs to support waste collection at GWF campuses. The partnership targets primary school learners (Grade 3-7) through digital education combined with practical recycling initiatives, with plans to expand to additional GWF campuses. CEO Edith Leeuta and GWF founder Kate Groch co-led the launch attended by 80 learners.
• PikitupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2024Pikitup (City of Johannesburg waste management utility) partnered with Fibre Circle and MR BIN Waste Management Company to host the 'My City, My Future, Let's Save It' Schools' Environmental Debates on 8 November 2024 at the COJ Metro Council Chamber. 12 Soweto-based schools participated. Pikitup coordinated the municipal event while Fibre Circle supported with prizes (scientific calculators) and CEO participation.
• MR BIN Waste Management CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 November 2024Soweto-based waste management company partnering with Pikitup and Fibre Circle for the 'My City, My Future' Schools Environmental Debates, supporting waste management operations in the event.
• Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2024DARDLEA co-hosted the 'Turning Waste into Art' event on 25 July 2024 at Nelsville Community Hall, Mbombela, as part of the Zithande Mzansi Schools Programme. DARDLEA representatives delivered keynote addresses and praised the government-private-civil society collaboration model. Dr. Almarie De Lange emphasised entrepreneurial opportunities in waste management.
• Food & Trees for AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Food & Trees for Africa enables selected Zithande Mzansi programme schools to establish food gardens and plant trees alongside recycling activities. The gardens improve learner nutrition and teach practical environmental skills.
• Infinite Industries (Dignity Loos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfinite Industries supplies the Dignity Loos (compressed poly-aluminium recovered from recycled beverage cartons and toothpaste tubes) for the Zithande Mzansi Dignity Project. Each toilet uses less than one litre of water per flush and solid waste can be used to enrich school garden soil. Pilot implemented in Mpumalanga.
• TwinsavercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwinsaver partners with Fibre Circle on the Label Backing Paper (LBP) recycling initiative. Post-consumer LBP is collected and processed at the Twinsaver recycling plant to produce toilet tissue, wipes, blended industrial wipes, and roller towels. Fibre Circle coordinates collection from partners and facilitates participation.
• K1 RecyclingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKatlehong-based K1 Recycling (led by Tshepo Mazibuko) provided a team of cleaners and recycling sorters for the Benoni Northerns Athletics Club marathon clean-up sponsored by Fibre Circle. K1 Recycling staff were stationed along the race route and at the finish to collect and sort recyclable waste.
• MK Green SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth-owned waste management and recycling company in Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal) partnered with Fibre Circle for the December 2024 food bucket distribution to waste reclaimers. Led by Phumelele Nonkala, the company distributed food parcels to waste reclaimers in their network.
• Greenza Environmental ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFibre Circle SMME partner and buy-back centre operator in Thohoyandou (Limpopo), operated by Anza Muntswu. Participated in the December 2024 food bucket distribution initiative targeting waste reclaimers, with plans to expand the programme in 2025.
• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)coreOthersDFFE is the regulating authority for EPR schemes in South Africa. Fibre Circle is officially registered with DFFE as a Producer Responsibility Organisation for the paper and paper packaging sector under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. DFFE representatives attend and support Fibre Circle events including the Zithande Mzansi Schools Programme.
• Mpact Operations (Springs Mill)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMpact Operations at Springs Mill hosts the pilot-scale CEPI recyclability testing facility and Kadant Autolab equipment for Fibre Circle's R&D programme. Mpact issues test reports which Fibre Circle reviews to issue industry opinion reports.
• Urban SurferminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMME within the Fibre Circle SMME Development Programme that manufactured waste picker trolleys presented to other SMMEs (TVK Recyclers, DL Consultants, Trash 2 Treasure) at the 'Turning Waste into Art' event in Mpumalanga.
• Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASA representatives attended the 'My City, My Future' Schools' Environmental Debates at the City of Johannesburg Council Chamber as stakeholders supporting the event.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CONAI: Italian non-profit PRO system for packaging waste, including paper/board stream. Comparable as a national EPR scheme funded by producer fees and run as a consortium-style non-profit, mirroring Fibre Circle's PAMDEV NPC structure.
• Duales System Deutschland (Grüner Punkt): Germany's flagship Producer Responsibility Organisation for packaging, including paper and paper-based packaging. Directly comparable as a mandated PRO that collects fees from obligated producers and funds recycling infrastructure under national EPR legislation.
• Fost Plus: Belgian PRO for household paper and packaging packaging. Comparable as a paper/paper-packaging EPR scheme operator funding collection, sorting, and recycling from producer fees, with similar structure to Fibre Circle.
• Recycle BC: British Columbia's extended producer responsibility programme for packaging and paper. Directly comparable as a paper-and-packaging EPR scheme funded by obligated producers, with responsibility for residential recycling programme design and reporting.
• Ecoembes: Spanish PRO managing recycling of packaging including paper and paperboard. Directly comparable EPR fee-and-recycling model serving obligated producers in a single national market.
• Citeo: French PRO created by brand-owners and retailers to manage the recycling of paper and packaging. Directly comparable to Fibre Circle as a paper/paper-packaging focused PRO with EPR fee collection, sorting/recycling investment, and R&D into recyclability.

Regional players

• The Glass Recycling Company: South African industry-established PRO for glass packaging under the same EPR regime. Comparable as a co-jurisdiction PRO peer sharing DFFE oversight, obligated-producer fee structures, and recycling infrastructure investment obligations.
• Petco South Africa: South African PRO for PET plastics, operating under the same DFFE EPR regulatory framework as Fibre Circle. Comparable as a same-jurisdiction PRO peer navigating identical Section 18 regulations and producer base, though focused on a different material stream.

Others

• Mpact: South African paper and plastics manufacturer and recycling operator, and a registered Fibre Circle member. Closely linked as both a customer/member and host of Fibre Circle's pilot recyclability testing facility at Springs Mill.

Broad incumbents

• PRO Europe: Umbrella organisation representing European packaging and paper PROs. Comparable as a coordinating body for the type of national paper/packaging PROs Fibre Circle operates within, providing industry-level standards and advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/992210232655644
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fibre-circle

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fibre Circle